Cisco Systems Inc. and Apple Inc. said Wednesday they have settled the trademark-infringement lawsuit that threatened to derail Apple’s use of the “iPhone” name for its much-hyped new iPod-cellular phone gadget.

The companies said they reached an agreement that will allow Apple to use the name for its sleek new multimedia device in exchange for exploring wide-ranging “interoperability” between the companies’ products in the areas of security, consumer and business communications.

OK. I still won’t be able to figure out whether or not I want one — until I can try one. That still appears to be weeks and months away.



  1. Cursor_ says:

    I won’t even take one for free!

    I don’t want to switch to Cingular, I don’t want a 2g phone when 3g is
    the statndard, I don’t want a phone that I cannot use 3rd party apps with,
    I don’t want a phone that I can’t use a mini-sd card with, I don’t want a phone that will play music and video and NOT have a secondary battery when I need it.

    Until they fix these things I don’t want one. It would be too expensive
    for what most PDAs can do now.

    Cursor_

  2. doug says:

    #1. It’s the 2g service that is the deal-killer for me. I am going to wait for the next one …

  3. Mic says:

    They settled in exchange for …exploring wide-ranging “interoperability” between the companies’….

    Now does that mean that Apples’ iPhone will have VOIP capabilities?

    If so, the device is getting closer to becoming “the” killer app.

  4. Lauren the Ghoti says:

    I’m still gonna take this opportunity to shamelessly plug generously reiterate my prediction – the Apple iPhone will be, within 18 months, the world’s first portable picturephone.

    See you back here in August ’08, when I will graciously accept all kudos coming due at that time… 🙂

  5. Higghawker says:

    Im going to say that Jobs doesn’t care that it’s not the most powerful, or have every function available. Jobs is a master at design for the IN thing to have. He mentioned at the break out that he wants 1% of the phone biz. Just as everyone doubted the iPod and it’s longevity, these phones will be the next IN thing to have. It is the COOL factor that will make these a hit!

  6. moss says:

    It’s always perfectly acceptable to found opinions on misinformation. Still, I should point out that Apple has said 3rd-party apps have to be approved before use on the iPhone — not that they can’t be used.

  7. Cingular is better than Verizon and that bunch.. I cant believe you guys like the crippled phones! They SUCK.. I have an 8525 and it blows away the garbage Verizon is putting out.. I can watch movies (Saved from places like tv-links.co.uk or peekvid.com) emulate and play games like a playstation, Atari 800, c64, SNES, Genesis, Game Boy Advance etc.. I can log into my home computer or a work server as if Im there using ‘remote administrator’ (a type of vnc that comes w/ windows mobile) .. The list goes on.. Its a 400mhz 2GB ram comptuer in my pocket.

    Crushes the other phones.. ABSOLUTELY crushes them..

  8. Mike says:

    I really don’t understand what Cisco was hoping to get out of this. They may have had the US trademark, but Apple had iPhone trademarks in other countries around the world. Were they going to just not sell their own iPhones in these other countries?

  9. Mike Voice says:

    8 I really don’t understand what Cisco was hoping to get out of this. They may have had the US trademark, but Apple had iPhone trademarks in other countries around the world. Were they going to just not sell their own iPhones in these other countries?

    Exactly why Apple went ahead with the announcement as planned…

    Cisco hoped to force “interoperability” out of Steve definition of control freak Jobs… quite a laughable concept, to me.

    Now, they have to settle for “we’ll talk about it…”

    I can’t even type that with a straight face. 🙂

    Nothing to see here. Move along.

  10. James Hill says:

    Where are all the anti-Mac fan boys who tried to make a big deal out of this story after Mac World? Honestly, that crowd is worse than the pro-Mac fan boys.

    As for the cell providers, they all have their good points and bad. Trading VZW for AT&T doesn’t keep me up at night, nor does the lack of 3G in the first generation iPhone since there is currently no phone that makes 3G a killer app.

    The phone’s already a winner: CES was overshadowed by the phone, which had to make Jobs happy. Making money on the thing, at this point, almost seems secondary.

  11. Steve S says:

    Finally a piece of news that has less importance in my life than the Anna Nicole Smith saga!

  12. GregA says:

    Cingular and apple are the perfect match, they have a common marketing scheme. Cingulars advertising currently focuses on FUDing about dropped calls.

    iPhone, the definitive cellphone for complainers. Wow.

  13. Lauren the Ghoti says:

    #11 – GregA

    Now, now. Envy is unbecoming.

  14. GregA says:

    #12,

    Notice that you are complaining again.

  15. Mark says:

    “Where are all the anti-Mac fan boys who tried to make a big deal out of this story after Mac World? Honestly, that crowd is worse than the pro-Mac fan boys.”

    We moved on, got a life, and really dont give a fuck.

    The only thing I’d like to know is Will It Blend?

    http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=9966

  16. Lauren the Ghoti says:

    Between GregA talking to himself ( #12 > #14 > #12 :p ) and pedro having an attack of the vapors, this is all getting mighty confusing…

  17. Podesta says:

    LOL @ GregA. His profound jealousy of Steve Jobs is so amusing.

  18. Lauren the Ghoti says:

    #15- WokTiny

    Best laugh I’ve had all day…
    & just like everything else in The Onion, it’s so fucking true… what I wouldn’t’ve given to’ve seen the look on Steve J’s face when he read that!

  19. Shawl VeLay says:

    The iPod succeeded because there were only a 2 or so harddrive mp3 players in the market when it was introduced. It’s design was superior to these 2 or so other brands (like Creative’s ).

    The iPhone on the other hand enters a market where there are hundreds of phones in the market. It’s design is inferior compared to the Treo’s and HTC’s of this world. I mean, what the frig is a cellphone without a keypad or a qwerty? That’s a fundamental flaw man.

  20. Lauren the Ghoti says:

    #21 – Shawl VeLay

    “It’s design is inferior compared to the Treo’s and HTC’s of this world. I mean, what the frig is a cellphone without a keypad or a qwerty? That’s a fundamental flaw man.”

    You’re serious, right? No keypad? Wanna guess what’s that thing on the front, y’know, what wif gots all dem buttons on ‘im? The most acclaimed, eagerly awaited, talked-about, swooned-over phone ever, and nobody but you noticed there’s “no keypad”?

    Go look at the nice picture and examine it reeeaaal close-like – then try again…


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